The Collingwood Football Club officially turns 123 years old today.

On 12 February 1892, local parliamentarian W. D. Beazley addressed a crowded Collingwood Town Hall to proclaim the formation of the Collingwood Football Club.

In the ensuing 123 years, Collingwood has become the biggest and most famous sporting club in Australia.

After 120 years, the Magpies have 15 VFL/AFL premierships and one VFA premiership.

In a total of 2441 games, Collingwood has won 1485 (69 more than its nearest rival, Carlton) and played in 177 finals - the most of any team in the league.

Be it at Victoria Park, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or any other sporting venue in the country, Collingwood has seen it all.

Built on its feverishly passionate supporters since its inception, Collingwood has gained a reputation like no other in Australian sport - it is a club that either you love or hate. There are no shades of grey. The approach towards the club is literally black and white.

The words 'forever', 'Side By Side' and 'stick together' are found in Collingwood's theme song. It's little wonder that they have remained the cornerstones of the club's raison d'être as it grew from being the socioeconomic underdog of Melbourne to the biggest sporting club in Australia.

Happy 123th Birthday to the Collingwood Football Club.

Collingwood Football Club - The Record
Formed
12 February 1892

First Game
Round 1 1892 v Carlton at Victoria Park, 7 May
Collingwood 2.11 (23)
Carlton 3.13 (31)

Played - 2441

Wins - 1485

Losses - 930

Draws - 26

Biggest Win
Round 4 1979 v St Kilda at Victoria Park
Collingwood 31.21 (207)
St Kilda 3.11 (29)
Collingwood won by 178 points

Biggest Loss
Round 3 1942 v Richmond at Punt Rd
Collingwood 5.7 (37)
Richmond 25.25 (175)
Collingwood lost by 138 points

Highest Score
Round 17 1980 v St Kilda at Waverley Park
Collingwood 32.19 (211)
St Kilda 16.11 (107)

Most Games
Tony Shaw (313)
Debut - Round 19 1978 v Footscray at Victoria Park
Last Game - Qualifying Final 1994 v West Coast at the WACA

Most Goals
Gordon Coventry (1299)
Debut - Round 15 1920 v St Kilda at the Junction Oval
Last Game - Grand Final 1937 v Geelong at the MCG

Most Possessions in a Match
Tony Shaw (50 possessions - 28 kicks, 4 marks, 22 handballs, 1 goal)
Round 5 1991 v Brisbane Bears at Victoria Park

Most Goals in a Match
Gordon Coventry (17 goals)
Round 12 1930 v Fitzroy at Victoria Park

Premierships
VFL/AFL - (15) 1902, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1990, 2010

VFA - (1) 1896

Pre-Season/Night - (2) 1979, 2011

Reserves - (7) 1919, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1940, 1965, 1976

Under 19 - (4) 1960, 1965, 1974, 1986

Runners Up (26)
1901, 1905, 1911, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2011

Brownlow Medalists (9)
Syd Coventry (1927), Albert Collier (1929), Harry Collier (1930), Marcus Whelan (1939), Des Fothergill (1940), Len Thompson (1972), Peter Moore (1979), Nathan Buckley (2003), Dane Swan (2011).

Most Copeland Trophies (Best and Fairest)
Nathan Buckley (6 - 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003)

Most Games as Captain
Nathan Buckley (161 - 1998-2007)

Most Games as Coach
Jock McHale (714 - 1912-1949)

Biggest Attendance
Grand Final 1970 v Carlton at the MCG
121,696

Collingwood players born on 12 February
Bernie Shannon (12/2/1929)
Career Span 1949-1951 (37 games, 44 goals)

John Mahon (12/2/1940)
Career Span 1961-1965 (60 games, 1 goal)
*Mahon's family owned the Yarra Hotel on Johnston Street in the 1960s. The Yarra Hotel is opposite Lulie Street, and was where the Collingwood players were forced to change into their playing uniforms before playing Carlton in the club's first match in 1892.

Peter Eakins (12/2/1947)
Career Span 1970-1972 (31 games, 1 goal)

Dayne Beams (12/2/1990)
Career Span 2009-2014 (110 games, 118 goals)